"Warning! Warning! Unidentified object is breaching the space station's outer shield!!
Warning! Warning!"
"Ah! What's happening?!"
"Help! I don't want to die!"
The sudden alarm plunged the Master Control Zone into chaos. Everyone simultaneously saw it on the virtual screen—a colossal claw tearing through the station's peripheral shield!
"It's here!"
Wende's eyes sharpened. He stood up and walked toward the main control bridge.
The Doomsday Beast, lured here by the Stellaron Hunters, had finally arrived. If the Antimatter Legion forces from before were just skirmishes, then this planetary-grade Doomsday Beast was the main course!
"You all leave on the Express! I'll stay behind."
The pink-haired Asta addressed the Astral Express crew, her eyes filled with resolve as she turned to look at the Doomsday Beast breaking through the shield.
As the Station Head, she absolutely could not panic now. With Madam Herta nowhere to be found, the station had to rely on her!
"Alright. March, get Wende. We're heading back to the train," Himeko said, her tone grave. She recognized the severity of the situation and spoke sternly to a hesitant March 7th.
"But..."
March 7th still wanted to do something, but seeing Himeko's serious expression, she could only fall in line behind her.
Wende, who had just walked over, overheard the brief exchange. He stepped forward, patted March 7th's shoulder, and nodded at Himeko.
Stelle, standing to the side, hadn't yet grasped the situation. She followed the Astral Express team as they left the Master Control Zone and headed for the Support Zone.
"The Support Zone's shield won't hold for long either... Hurry! Leave this to us!" Asta's voice called out over the bridge's broadcast system, watching the shield's energy readings flash red on her screen.
As the Doomsday Beast was about to break through, Asta clenched her jaw......
At the very least... she had to let the Astral Express crew leave first! This was a disaster that had befallen the space station; it absolutely could not be allowed to drag them into it!
...........
"Leave... this to me.... You all... hurry....."
Asta's voice came through the broadcast, intermittent and staticky, before quickly falling silent.
"The communication's been cut..." Himeko stopped, her expression grim.
"Should we go back? A reminder: that is a Doomsday Beast, one of the Legion's anti-astral weapons," Dan Heng said calmly, looking at Himeko. But judging by his crossed arms, he wasn't as calm as he appeared.
"Don't worry. This is Herta's space station. As long as an Emanator of Destruction doesn't get involved, this place should be fine," Himeko said, shaking her head.
As a genius renowned throughout the universe, no one would be foolish enough to provoke Herta. Even the Emanators of Destruction would have to think twice.
"But we can't just run away like this!" March 7th said with some hesitation. After all, the relationship between the Astral Express and the space station was excellent, and Station Head Asta had been very kind to them. To just leave... wasn't that a bit too...
Dan Heng shook his head.
"It's only a matter of time before the Doomsday Beast tears through the shield. Herta isn't on the station right now. The defenses here have no way of stopping it..."
Though the reality was cruel, he had to speak the harsh truth for the sake of the Astral Express.
"So we must leave now. And we have to take her with us."
Himeko's gaze fell on Stelle, her eyes profound...
Wende looked at the bewildered Stelle, a myriad of thoughts racing through his mind. As the vessel of the Stellaron, Stelle did indeed possess the power to change the current situation, because that Doomsday Beast was essentially here for her. But more importantly, Stelle was the manifestation of the players' consciousness from his old world. The thoughts of that group of Fourth Calamities would materialize in this innocent and ignorant young woman.
While her current cluelessness was mostly due to amnesia, Wende didn't think she would stay this way forever.
"Alright. What's our plan?" Dan Heng nodded, accepting Himeko's judgment. While he couldn't be certain, Himeko was the navigator of the Astral Express; her insight was never wrong.
"We follow this path straight to the nearest platform to rendezvous with Welt. With a commotion this big on the station, he should already be on his way," Himeko said. Seeing no further objections from the team, she led the crew towards the platform.
As one of the two main parental figures on the train, Welt's capabilities were clear to everyone, especially Wende. Others might not know Uncle Yang's true identity, but he certainly did. As the former Sovereign of Anti-Entropy and the Herrscher of Reason, never mind protecting the Astral Express, even dealing with a Doomsday Beast shouldn't be too difficult for him.
The path to the Support Zone was not smooth. Many Voidspawn from the Antimatter Legion were still roaming the station.
Fortunately, Himeko's drone was there to carve a path, and the Voidspawn's attacks couldn't stop the crew's advance.
Even when they encountered a few Voidspawn Tramplers along the way, they quickly pushed through with Wende's support.
It had to be said, the effect of Wende's lightning needles was truly potent. In actual combat, they could paralyze monsters. He could also stimulate his teammates' bodies by piercing them, enhancing their combat power, while also healing them with the power of the Abundance.
This deviated slightly from the character card he had designed, but it wasn't too far off.
After all, very few real battles were turn-based.
Finally, the crew broke through the last line of Voidspawn defenses and successfully returned to the vicinity of the station's platform.
Seeing the Astral Express so close, March 7th's heart pounded with excitement. As long as they met up with Uncle Welt, maybe the space station could be saved from the fate of being destroyed by the Doomsday Beast!
And so, March 7th bolted towards the train.
"March! Wait!"
Suddenly, Dan Heng's expression turned serious. Something was approaching!
"It's the Doomsday Beast!" Wende exclaimed, the hairs on his body standing on end as he looked up at the massive silhouette rapidly closing in from above.
It wasn't out of fear, but excitement!
Only by being here in person could one experience this imminent sense of pressure! And... the giant claw slicing through the sky, hurtling towards them!
"So it really did chase us..." Himeko frowned, looking at the approaching beast. She glanced at Stelle, who was captivated by the sight, and a flash of understanding crossed her eyes.
"Hmph! Come down here if you've got the guts!" March 7th yelled at the Doomsday Beast above, nocking an arrow to her bow.
"ROAR!!!!"
As if it had heard March 7th's provocation from below, the Doomsday Beast actually dove down from the sky!
"Watch out!"
Seeing the situation turn sour, Wende immediately pulled March 7th and Stelle back a safe distance. Dan Heng and Himeko also retreated hastily, dodging the beast's attack as it smashed into the platform.
"ROAR!!!"
The Doomsday Beast, having descended from the heavens, let out a furious roar and then launched its attack on the crew.